Seven Days with the H992 × Astro

Seven Days with the H992 × Astro -

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Leaving The Party While It's Still Full - Jack Carlson

News broke yesterday that Jack Carlson of Rowing Blazers will be moving on to his next adventure. And in all honesty, for many of us who started as fans, became loyal customers, and then got to know Jack a little bit - it's somewhat bittersweet.  

It is not everyday that a brand like Rowing Blazers comes along.       

                   

In the time since Rowing Blazers launched, several other brands have come and gone. A few quite surprisingly so. So yes, the success of Rowing Blazers took a bit of luck, but luck tends to favor the well-prepared.

Jack Carlson is many things - a champion rower, Doctor of Philosophy (Archeology at Oxford), author, and creative director. And perhaps paramount to his success, and that of Rowing Blazers - he is a genuinely nice guy.

I am the proud owner of more Rowing Blazers gear than I really have space for, but I wouldn't trade any of it. A lot of it is because it looks great (even on my declining form) and it is well-made. But it's more than that. What makes Rowing Blazers great is what makes any iconic brand truly great. It's the people. And Jack and his team created something truly magical, something beyond a brand. Rowing Blazers is much more - it has became a club that you would want to be a member of. Inclusive, fun, and joyful -

The individual ideas for collaboration were wonderful - Babar, US Rowing, the NBA just to name a few. But I think it is even more telling to look at the arc of Rowing Blazers as a whole. It has become a touchstone for so many brands and designers since.

My only regret is not getting the Croquet Stripe blazer while it was available, but you never know, it might come back someday ; )

To be clear, Rowing Blazers will continue on, and I suspect will remain at the forefront. But it will not be the same. That is neither good or bad, but it is fact.

I am grateful that I've had even a small glimpse into this wonderful world as a loyal customer and fan. And if I'm honest, I am happy for Jack Carlson - not everyone gets the opportunity (to quote Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani) to "leave the party while it's still full".

So thank you Mr. Carlson, you have made my sartorial life so much more than it might have been ; ) 

In Case You Missed It...

So I realize that the majority of folks in Watch Town, and those who are "Watch Town Adjacent" live with the unflinching conviction that the sun rises and sets at Hodinkee. So it would be understandable for those who were privy to the launch of the Rowing Blazers / Seiko mash up drop yesterday and didn't act fast might have missed out on a pretty cool sport watch that has already sold through the Rowing Blazers online store -

Courtesy of Rowing Blazers

Regular readers may remember Rowing Blazers from such disparate and non-watch related stories as -
http://www.tempusfugit.watch/2018/01/beyond-jacket-rowing-blazers-and-their.html

and
http://www.tempusfugit.watch/2018/06/rowing-blazers-pop-up.html

and
http://www.tempusfugit.watch/2019/08/the-official-tempus-fugit-blazer.html

and
http://www.tempusfugit.watch/2020/12/dear-santa.html

and
http://www.tempusfugit.watch/2017/06/blazers.html

and
http://www.tempusfugit.watch/2017/12/show-your-colors.html

and
http://www.tempusfugit.watch/2020/06/the-shit-that-killed-elvis-rowing.html

and
http://www.tempusfugit.watch/2020/09/what-to-wear-on-your-journey-or-look.html

Long story short, if like me you are a fan of Rowing Blazers efforts and you are not a habitué of certain media outlets, you might have missed out as the three versions sold out very quickly.

Well, your pal Henki has some good news for you. As a member of the press (someone who not only did a brief stint at J-school but remembers the importance of research as opposed to waiting on the press release that might never come), I thought I would do something wild and crazy and dig beyond what never showed up in my in-box. Lo and behold (Seiko) sports fans! If you went to bed last night feeling as if you got the fuzzy end of the lollipop, you can still (as of this writing at 6:00 AM Eastern on Friday, June 18) pick up a Rowing Blazers x Seiko sport watch -

Courtesy of Rowing Blazers

Because at the Seiko site, they are still available -

Courtesy of Seiko

So if you missed out on the drop, here's hoping that our attempts at egalitarian, FREEMIUM coverage will help you cop one of these pretty drip divers for yourself, even if you don't claim membership in the cult of the big H.

A very, very happy Juneteenth to all of you, and enjoy your watches!